Performance Evaluation
The office of the Bushi of Eastern War was even more of a mess than the Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory remembered. The maps, charts and reports no longer sat piled on chairs, they spilled over the floor, like snowdrifts across the ground. The junior goddess tried to be discrete, peeking around the door-frame, but a dozen functionaries bustled in and out, grabbing files, dropping off destiny projections, and she was soon pushed into the open.
The senior war goddess of the East was bent low over her desk, consulting with two of her adjutant staff: Leopard Tooth Scholar, the God of Reconnaissance-in-Force, and Ivory Shadow Smith, the God of Secret Arsenals. She didn’t notice one more god among the crowd. Sweet Brass could wait, but… better to get this over with. “Daimyo? You wanted to see me?”
Sunipa, the Bushi of Eastern War, Goddess of Dutiful Soldiers and War Constrained By Rules, looked up and fixed her subordinate with a hard, jet gaze. “Clear the room.”
A few of the busy functionaries paused long enough to grab a scroll or mark their place sorting a file cabinet. Stone the Mountain’s Call, who had once been Sweet Brass’ CO, gave her a nod; Wandering Star, Goddess of Guerilla Warfare, who probably knew something of her situation, gave her a sympathetic smile. But they all quickly left through the door, winked out, or faded away.
And Sweet Brass was alone with Sunipa.
“The Marukan Alliance is not at war,” the senior goddess said.
“No, Daimyo.”
“Six battles this year. That was the goal. Six.” Sunia stood and leaned her palms upon her desk. “Plus eleven skirmishes. The Battle of Five Winds alone was supposed to deliver seven heroic opportunities to the mortals in the legion. Instead, we have half an army running like rabbits, half its leadership gone, and even Lookshy pulling back! We didn’t meet a single project deliverable, and I have the Bureau of Destiny complaining about the extra workload they’ll have correcting your mistakes.”
“My mistakes?” Sweet Brass stood straight. “Daimyo, Ma-Ha-Suchi himself was on the field! What could I do? I couldn’t have faced him and survived!”
“You should never have been in a position where direct conflict was an option. You’re a goddess; you support, advise, and report.”
“I supported the Marukan side as best as I could, Daimyo. As you ordered.”
“I never ordered you to take physical form.”
“What does it matter, Daimyo? Would Ma-Ha-Suchi have triumphed over the Nameless Ravine any less if I had stood immaterially behind the dawn, instead?
“You don’t fight their battles, Captain. That’s what it matters. That’s the law. No matter what your personal stake. I’ve been lax about that; we’re all adjusting to the unusual circumstances we’ve been in, but there’s only so much I can let this go.”
Sweet Brass’ heart rang empty. “Daimyo?”
“I’m suspending your license to materialize. Being with your fallen horselord has you too distracted, and I need you focused if you’re going to fix this.”
Sweet Brass swallowed, once. “That horselord has the Mandate of Heaven.”
“That remains to be seen. In either case, he’s on his own right now. I don’t want to see you near him. Your duty is looking after the armies.”
“I can’t leave Storm alone, now, Diamyo! The only thing holding him together is courage and determination.”
“Then you have to hope that you’ve given him enough of both, already. Because the only reason I’m not having you discharged is that Marukani prayers are up by three percent. Avoid your horselord, follow the army. I expect a report on my desk in one week.
“Dismissed.”
